Cover photo for John Marsh's Obituary
John Marsh Profile Photo
1938 John 2020

John Marsh

September 10, 1938 — June 7, 2020

John Everett Leo Marsh of Marshall died quietly at his home Sunday, June 7, following an 8-year battle with kidney disease. Born Sept. 10, 1938, in Cheboygan, Mi, he spent most of his childhood in Mackinaw City where his parents, Earl M. and Marguerite (Desy) Marsh, moved their large family in 1943. He was nurtured by the small, tourist village. It was a rich environment that encouraged initiative, service, and strong family connections.
Mr. Marsh graduated from Mackinaw City High School in 1956 having attended school there all 13 years in the same building. He went on to receive his BA degree from Central Michigan University in 1960 and his master's degree from Western Michigan University in 1965. He spent his entire 38-year career in education in the Marshall Public Schools. He taught 8 years at Gordon and Conley elementary schools, becoming a principal in 1968. He served Hughes, Oak Grove, Crary, Pierce and Shearman Schools – his longest tenure as principal at Hughes School for 29 years. He retired in 1998.
Mr. Marsh was heavily involved in several aspects of community affairs in Marshall from the time he arrived in the fall of 1960 – theatre being one. He played his first role in a Marshall Civic Players production of Guys and Dolls and over the next nearly 60 years appeared numerous times on the stage. His most notable portrayals were of Felix, opposite Morris Stulberg's Oscar, in The Odd Couple, and at the age of 77 Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street. He served as stage manager of many productions and worked in every other capacity backstage as well. The Board of Directors captured his talents for three terms and he served one term as the organization's president. That Board honored him with their Founders Award in 2004 and both he and his wife Georgia were presented with the Life Achievement Award in 2012.
He also appeared in two productions at the Great Escape Stage Company and was a generous supporter of the organization. It was a joy for him that his last acting roles were with his wife of 52 years also in the cast. Georgia and he appeared in Love Letters and Arsenic and Old Lace at that venue.
The two met in 1965 when she arrived on the scene to teach Latin as a Marshall High School teacher, and they were both cast in the MCP production Anything Goes. They were married Dec. 23, 1967 in the first ecumenical service at her parents' Catholic church, Holy Cross, in Lansing, Mi. She survives.
Another of his service arenas was the Marshall Historical Society. He served three terms on the Board of Trustees, one year as president. During his presidency he, Aaron Acker and Norman Kinney were instrumental in over-seeing the restoration of the murals and carpeting in Honolulu House. He worked on every Home Tour from 1969 until 2017 and he and Georgia had their home on the tour a number of times. He also chaired the Christmas Candlelight Walk 6 times.
John was a part of several firsts in the community as well. He served on the inaugural committee which started the Oaklawn Hospital Hospitality Classic Race; the Oaklawn Hospital Charity Auction and the Fountain Clinic Auction -- at that event he served as emcee for the first four auctions; the committee which worked to purchase the former Brooks Memorial Church to become the Marshall Civic Center, and that committee evolved into what became the Marshall Civic Foundation and ultimately the Marshall Community Foundation; the creation of the Garden Party and Men Who Cook to benefit the Music Center of South Central Michigan; and the floral plantings around the fountain circle with friend Kathryn Kinney, which the Garden Club now attends. He was also active in the Jaycees and Exchange Club in his younger years.
Known by his friends as The Voice of Marshall, John emceed the Marshall Christmas Parade for more than 20 years with Mrs. Dottie Brown. An active member of the Chamber of Commerce, he acted as Master of Ceremonies of numerous Annual Chamber Dinners and Dream Dollars events and he, Dottie and Morris Stulberg served as emcees of the Marshall Music Boosters Follies on many occasions.
In addition to his theatrical awards, John was recognized for his service to his beloved community with Michigan Week Minuteman Awards on four occasions. Most notable were the recognitions he received from Governor William G. Milliken on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing in 1982 and being Grand Marshal of Marshall's Christmas parade in 2016.
He will be remembered by all for his significant presence in the community, his positivity, his booming laughter and gentle kindness. He was a lover of history and an avid reader which lead to a love of travel, antiques and collecting – especially post cards and artifacts related to Mackinaw City. He also spent many hours in his gardens tending a wide variety of hostas along side treasured neighbor John Harlow. His large extended family will also treasure his generosity, his unfailing support, his humility and unconditional love.
In addition to his wife Georgia, his survivors include his daughter Elinor and daughter-in-law Jessica Hess; grand-son John Everett Leo Marsh II (Jack) all of Marshall; one sister Blanche (Gordon) Sheldon of Petoskey; sisters-in-law Nancy Marsh of Mt. Pleasant, Mary Marsh of Charlevoix and Lucy Marsh of Champaign, Il.; 22 nieces and nephews, 28 grandnieces and grandnephews and 8 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Stephen, James, Raymond, Charles and Patrick; and sisters Virginia Ann Wehner, Marguerite McPeak; nieces Mary Catherine Marsh and Peggy Fish; nephews Michael McPeak and David Wehner; brothers-in-law Charles Wehner, Harold Fish, and James McPeak and sister-in-law Shay Wagner.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2020 from 10:30AM-12:00PM at Stuart's Landing, 603 Homer Road Marshall MI 49068. A tribute to John will take place at 12:00PM with interment to follow at Oakridge Cemetery.  **Due to Covid-19 family requests that mask be worn and social distancing take place.**   Being that the tribute is outside if you plan on attending the gather people are asked to bring their own chairs.  Family encourages people to look into a Live Kidney Donation to help others.

Memorial contributions in John’s memory are requested to Marshall Civic Players, PO Box 102 Marshall MI 49068 (https://www.marshallcivicplayers.org/donate), The Great Escape Stage Company, PO Box 621, Marshall MI 49068, or to the Marshall Historical Society, 107 North Kalamazoo Avenue, Marshall MI 49068.  Memorial contributions may also be mailed to Kempf Funeral Home PO Box 519 Marshall MI 49068.  Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook at https://kempffuneralhome.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Marsh, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Gathering

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Starts at 10:30 am (Eastern time)

Tribute of Life

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Starts at 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

Interment

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

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